Jun 13, 2013 1:14 PM

Just wondered if anyone could give me any idea what type of fish this fossil may be. My daughter is learning about rocks & fossils at school so we dug out some fossils we had (ammonites, belamnites, jurassic oysters & jet) that we had collected over the years for her to take in to 'show & tell'. This fossil was found approximately 30 years ago, when I was a child at Runswick Bay (about 8 miles form Whitby)

I think I am seeing fragments (white) and moulds of bivalves, though not well enough to ID in greater detail.

Have a look at the Gryhaea in the third photo on this page, and you'll get an idea of how the shell can curve-over at the top (umbo); I think we can see a similar form to one of the main shells in your specimen

Thanks for replying! Maybe the photo isn't clear enough here, but we are fairly certain the fossil is that of a fish especially when you see it in the flesh. The silvery white coloured closed bracket shape (for want of a better description) on the left of the stone being the tail, the rounded indentation right in the middle the being the body/ribs of the fish with the 'dorsal' fin sticking up above that (this also has a slight silvey white appearance right at the top), then to the far right of the stone the head with the small circular indentation being the eye socket. The very tip of the head has been broken off. I have fossils of Gryphaea so are familiar with those.

Just wondered if anyone had any information as to how old they thought it was & the type of fish etc anything really. Have another look anyway & se if you can pick the fish shape out from my explanation.

Where do you live? Why don't you all go collecting fossils close to where you live so that your daughter can have the fun of discovering them for herself?

I you email me I can forward you a sheet of labels and advice re: collecting fossils (techniques and localities to look) . If you live near London, I would be happy to help support your daughter to identify them herself and enhance her project.